Reclaiming Bahrain’s Hydroculture

From Ancient Practices to Mythical Crafts

Proposal for the Architecture Venice Biennale, 2023

A WEI+ZKA Project

This proposal explores Bahrain’s ancient and ongoing relationship with water through its rich pottery traditions. By focusing on clay—a material formed through the weathering of rock by water—the exhibition repositions Bahrain’s hydrology as central to its cultural and architectural practices. The suspended vessels on display bridge Bahrain’s ancient past with its environmental challenges today, proposing new ways of engaging with water as both a material and cultural force.

“The exhibition proposes new water rituals, where every drop becomes an act of cultural preservation.”

Water and Clay’s Cultural History

Bahrain’s history is inseparable from its water systems. In ancient times, freshwater springs made the island fertile, while clay deposits in valleys like Riffa and Umm Al-Guwaifa became the foundation of pottery production. Clay was a functional material and a carrier of cultural significance. For over 4,000 years, pottery has been a vital part of Bahrain’s daily life and rituals, including ceramic vessels in burial practices. These vessels symbolize Bahrain’s deep connection to water for survival and are critical drivers of cultural expression. They hover as reminders of Bahrain’s ancient water systems, which were vital to the land’s physical shaping and the social and architectural practices that followed.

Mythical Objects and New Rituals

The exhibition reflects on the past and uses Bahrain’s pottery traditions to propose new, speculative water rituals. As the island faces increasing water scarcity, the vessels in this exhibition suggest new ways of approaching water use and conservation. Clay plates, jars, and ceremonial objects reimagine ancient forms for future purposes, emphasizing how rituals around water may shift in a crisis. The vessels challenge the viewer to think about water not as a resource to be used without thought but as a critical and sacred element to be carefully managed. These mythical objects suggest a cultural shift towards water conservation, where every interaction—whether drinking, bathing, or cooking—becomes an act of reverence and care.

Architecture and Water Infrastructure

Water systems have always shaped Bahrain’s settlements, from ancient qanats to modern desalination plants. These infrastructures, however, are often treated as purely functional, disconnected from cultural narratives. The exhibition challenges this perception by positioning water infrastructure as integral to Bahrain’s cultural and architectural identity. As pottery reflects Bahrain’s history with water, the island’s modern-day reliance on desalination is equally formative, shaping the built environment and daily life. The suspended clay vessels serve as metaphors for how architecture can engage with the natural and technological systems that sustain Bahrain. The exhibition encourages architects and planners to rethink water infrastructure not as separate from culture but as a critical element of Bahrain’s spatial and social practices.